Audience reaction recorder



April 3, 1951 B. D. CIRLIN 2,547,074

AUDIENCE REACTION RECORDER Filed Oct. 31, 1947 #vn-Ekunfse 6 BY W I Patented Apr. 3, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUDIENCE REACTION RECORDER Bernard D. Cirlin, South Gate, Calif. Application October 31, 1947, Serial No. 783,347

2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to an electric signal and recording system, and ha particular reference to an audience reaction determination system.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a simple, readily installed, easily actuated, and conveniently tabulated audience reaction signal and recording system which is equally well adapted to small intimate gatherings or to large audiences.

Another object is to provide a simple system for readily obtaining an easily-readable record of audience approval, disapproval or indifference.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changes may be made therein by those skilled in the art without necessarily departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the above objects it has been found convenient to utilize a suitable source of electrical power, such as the usual A. C. or D. 0. power line; or batteries may be employed, if desired. At each position of a participating member of the audience there is a green button or actuator, which may be illuminated, to be pressed for approval, and a red button or actuator, which may also be illuminated, to be pressed for disapproval. The buttons will close circuits which lead to a recording tape or suitably sensitized strip or sheet upon which a trace may be recorded mechanically, or by heat, or by electric current.

Desirably, one circuit if closed will form a continuous trace, while the other circuit is provided with an interrupter to form a dotted or broken trace. A single trace either continuous or discontinuous will thus be created upon the tape or strip by a single recording instrument or stylus whose operation is responsive to actuation of the buttons by the audience member. Lack of a trace will indicate lack of interest or indifierence on the part of the audience member.

Thus there is provided a convenient readily interpretable record, correlated with time, of the audience reaction to a performance of a radio presentation, television performance, motion picture, or the like. These traces-one for each member of the audiencemay be placed closely together in parallel relation upon the tape or sheet which is graduatedaccording to lapse of time so that a ready interpretation of the composite audience reaction to each part of the performance may be had.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed and as to its other objects, features, and advantages, the mode of operation and manner of its organization, these, inter alia, may be better understood by referring to the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing one form of the electric circuits which may be utilized; and

Figure 2 is a diagrammaticperspective view showing the manner of recording the audience reaction upon the tape or sheet.

In Fig. l, the manually actuatable device 10 for disapproval, and H for approval, may be push buttons, piano keys or other actuators conveniently arranged in front of each participating member of the audience. The actuators may be positioned on the arms of the seat or designed to be held in the hands of the audience member, so that they may be conveniently manipulated to close the circuit between the conductors l2 and I3 in one case, or between the conductors l4 and l 5 in the other case.

The electrical source of power it (which may be a battery, as shown, or any suitable A. C. or D. C. power source) is connected by the conductors l1 and i3, the interrupter l9, and the conductor 20, to the resistance 2|. From the junction 22 the conductor 23 leads to resistance 24. The resistances 2| and 24 are connected to the conductors l2 and I4 respectively, which lead to the actuators I B and II respectively.

The conductors I3 and I5 join at 25 with the conductor 26 which leads to the plate 21, composed of electrically conductive material. Over the plate slowly moves the suitably sensitized tape or sheet 28 upon which rests the stylus or trace making instrument 29. The instrument 29 is connected by the conductor 30 to the other side of the power source Hi. The elongated sensitized strip 28 is caused to move in the longitudinal direction 3!, from the supply roll 32, by a suitable motive means (not shown), and the rate of advancement is uniform.

The strip 28 has markings thereon to indicate the time intervals elapsed during the continuance of the performance, and these graduations 35 are preferably calibrated by minutes and seconds. The trace produced by the stylus 29 will have continuous portions 33 (e. g., indicating approval and resulting from actuation of button H) and interrupted or discontinuous portions 3d (indicating disapproval and resulting from actuation of button Absence or complete discontinuity of trace will indicate lack of interest.

A large number of marking devices or styli 29 may be arranged side by side so that a relatively narrow strip of recording paper may carry the recorded reaction of a relatively large audience. This will enable accurate appraisal of the audience reaction by running a frame or a transversely slotted scanning member down along the resultant record to note the blank spaces; inter:- rupted traces and continuous traces.

The resistance of the elements 2+ andZE may vary widely but generally a 5000-ohm-i resistance in series with a 110 volt line will most satisfactorily burn a clear dark trace by resistance heating of the sensitized paper without burning through: the: paper 20.

The interrupter 19 saves thenecessity of having complete separate circuits and additional! instruments or styli 29*for recordation of approval or disapproval. The interrupter i9 maybe of any known character, and mayfor example include a' solenoid with an interrupter relay or gear actuating amicro-switch: and opening or closing the circuit every second: or half second.

The recording strip used may also be of any known type. For example, it may consist of a sulphite-base paper or a kraft paper impregnated with sodium: nitrate dissol'ved in an alcoholof: low

volatility and' low hydroscopicitysuch, for exam ple, as triethylene glycol. The paper may be fillipregnated with the electrolytic'solution by moistening the" surface thereof or in' any other suitable way. The recording. medium may be applied, for example, by dusting lead thiosulphate powder upon'the surface of thepaper. Themarks produced on the paper areblack, and the record simulates ordinary printing.

The electrolyte with which thev paper is impregnated may include potassium iodide, sodiumformate, sodium benzoate, sodium bromide, iron chloride, or meta-nitrobenzene sulphonic acid- The preferred electrolyte made up of. sodium ni'- trate and tri-ethylene glycol causes the paper to have a relatively high conductivity and does. not have any appreciable discoloring effect upon the paper. The alcoholic solvents mentioned cause the electrolyte. to remain in solution in the paper for an indefinite time.

Having now particularly described and ascertaine'd the nature of the invention, and in which manner the same is to' be performed, what is claimed is:

1. An audience reaction recorder comprising a sourceof: electric power, a pair of switches for manual operation connected in parallel with said sourceto'provid'e separate circuits one of which includes an automatic. periodic interrupter, means for moving a recording strip continuously, a conducting metal plate over which said strip passes, a stylus for marking on said strip when energized. and means connecting, said stylus andsaid plate in. series with said source of power and each of said switches.

2. An audience reaction recorder as set forth in claim 1' wherein said stylus is positionallyfixed in relation to said; moving recording stripandsaid means for moving the recording strip imparts movement in longitudinal direction thereto, whereby manual actuation of said switches pro duces on said recording strip a single longitudinal tracewhose continuity and discontinuity, as well as its complete absence, serve as a; distinguishable record of the reaction of an audience meme ber.

BERNARDD CIRLIN.

REFERENQES CITED The following references. are of record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 544,218 Ducas Aug. 6,. 1895 1,219,053 Thompson et al. Mar. 13, 1-917" 1,267,504 Bobrofi May 28, 191.8 1,620,224 Palmer Mar. 8, 1927 2,206,702 La Pierre July 2, 1940- 2,408,458 Turner, Jr. Oct. 1,. 1946 2,451,464 Anderson Oct. 19, 1948 2,483,573 Clark, Jr. Oct. 4, 1949 

